Can We Talk About Feminism?

Up until 2012 I wouldn't have called myself a feminist. My reason was that I didn't want to put myself in a box or give myself a label. I advocated equality of the sexes. And feminism sounded pretty one sided. Then a sequences of events and shows and speeches changed my mind.

It started with Satyamev Jayate, which made me realize my privileged position in Indian society. I personally hadn't suffered in the hands of gender discrimination. I was lucky enough to have parents who loved me as much as they loved my brother, they didn't discriminate against my education or upbringing. I had equal opportunities in school, college and in my consequent jobs. In my later years I probably have had a brush-off incident but nothing blatant to mention of. However, listening to women on Satyamev Jayate, followed by the brutal Delhi Rape Case, I realized HOW different things are for women in my country. The show shook me to my core. There onwards something changed within me.

Somewhere down the line, I read the best description of the word (feminism) "if we can use the word 'man-kind' for human race, then why can't we use the word 'feminism' for gender equality?" This made total sense to me. I embraced my inner feminist that very second. Soon after Emma Watson's speech, & Kalki's Women's Day performance made my own thoughts and my stand on the issue clearer to myself. I understood that I might not have chosen to give myself that 'label', but I had always been a feminist. I also understood that I do not have to hate men, to be a feminist. I just need to speak-up on behalf of whoever needs justice, when they can't themselves. It is unfortunate that majority of the time that injustice is towards women, but it is not to say that men have equal rights, everywhere, all the time.

Today, I don't shy away from calling myself a feminist. I believe in gender-equality. I aspire to treat every single human being with same respect and courtesy, without a gender prejudice.

10 comments

Proud feminist here. Also remember it's called MENstruation but it's only bound to people with uteruses and if that is not a problem for women, I don't know why FEMinism should be a problem for anyone ;-)

I just had a long talk with someone about this today. Feminism is not the same as female chauvinism, which unfortunately seems to be how many of our generation grew up hearing the term used. I love the push in the last few years to return to the word's true meaning and how women and men alike are realizing they don't need to feel ashamed to identify themselves as feminists.

I love this. Someone I know on FB was ranting on and on and ended her post with something about being a feminist. I noted that it sounded a lot more like man bashing than feminism and oh boy did I open up a can of worms. I grew up in a culture that belittles the women and gives them little room to express themselves. I'm thankful to live in a country now where I can stand up for myself and just be me!